Reports in Europe indicate Honda’s RC51 Superbike (known as the SP-1 in Europe) is making 175 horsepower at the crank in dyno tests of a full-race motor. This is apparently the precise horsepower figure made by Ducati’s Works 996.

Looks like it is “game on” for World Superbike supremacy between Ducati and Honda.

Although four-cylinder machines can have higher peak horsepower (Honda’s RC45 made nearly 190 horsepower), the twin-cylinder machines use their power much more efficiently.

This is due to their broader spread of torque, higher peak torque, and slower revving nature (which conserves the rear tire and “puts the power to the ground” much better than the four-cylinder bikes).

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